Hemel - Hitchin Commute Question

[Jazzy Jefferson]

Hi

I may be starting a new job. I live in Hemel and the job is in Hitchin.

Has anyone any advice on the best route to take for the morning commute. Need to be there for 9am start.
I was thinking M1 then through/around Luton and then up that way. However I suspect traffic in Luton will be a pain. I guess the alternative is via the A1, but this ups the distance.

Any suggestions welcomed. Thanks.

[tenohfive]

Another option that may be worth a look is J12 M1 then through Barton-le-Clay and on to Hitchin. It's all backroads but reasonably quick ones, and it's certainly a more interesting drive than traipsing along stop/start dual carriageways and longabouts etc. Google Maps reckons it's 5 minutes longer but with traffic on the A414 in the mornings I think you'll easily shave that off.

[456mgt]

Most of the traffic in the morning will be doing the reverse of your journey, and I agree, Hitchin to Hemel would be painful. Coming up the M1 and going through Luton to Hitchin shouldn't be too bad; I sometimes do this at peak times and it's fine. The roadworks on the M1 junction at the moment may make it a bit of a nightmare both ways though. The main problem with either route is getting through Hitchin itself.

If you look on google maps its 30 mins via M1 and 35 via A1M, so try both!

[Jazzy Jefferson]

tenohfive said:

Another option that may be worth a look is J12 M1 then through Barton-le-Clay and on to Hitchin. It's all backroads but reasonably quick ones, and it's certainly a more interesting drive than traipsing along stop/start dual carriageways and longabouts etc. Google Maps reckons it's 5 minutes longer but with traffic on the A414 in the mornings I think you'll easily shave that off.

It certainly is a more interesting drive. Good thinking, I'll give it a go. thanks mate

[Jazzy Jefferson]

456mgt said:

Most of the traffic in the morning will be doing the reverse of your journey, and I agree, Hitchin to Hemel would be painful. Coming up the M1 and going through Luton to Hitchin shouldn't be too bad; I sometimes do this at peak times and it's fine. The roadworks on the M1 junction at the moment may make it a bit of a nightmare both ways though. The main problem with either route is getting through Hitchin itself.

If you look on google maps its 30 mins via M1 and 35 via A1M, so try both!

That's worth noting. I did wonder what Hitchin would be like in the rush hour. Currently, I commute to London from Hemel in the car, so it will be nice going against the traffic for once!

I agree, I'll try both. Got M1, A1 and then the barton le clay route as suggested. good times. thanks!

[Cyder]

I live in Barton and commute out to the M1 everyday, my Mrs used to commute from Barton to Hitchin and said the only area the traffic gets bad is as you drop down the hill into Hitchin where the Luton road comes in from the right. Can add 10-15 minutes to your journey after 7.30am.

Definitely has to be better than turning off the M1 at Luton and heading straight to Hitchin though.

Have you considered going all the way across country via Harpenden? It's a good drive on fairly fun roads when there's no traffic but I've got no idea what Harpenden is like around rush hour.

[drgoatboy]

Which way would you go to get to A1?
The north orbital is likely to be pretty nasty that time of day I would have thought. Park street roundabout is always mentioned in the traffic bulletins on the radio...